Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 2
सृगालवानरौ पूर्वमास्तां जातिस्मरावुभौ । पुरापि मानुषे भावे सखायौ तौ बभूवतुः
sṛgālavānarau pūrvamāstāṃ jātismarāvubhau | purāpi mānuṣe bhāve sakhāyau tau babhūvatuḥ
Einst lebten ein Schakal und ein Affe, beide mit Erinnerung an frühere Geburten. Schon zuvor, in menschlicher Gestalt, waren jene beiden Freunde gewesen.
Sūta (continuing narration)
Tirtha: Dhanuskoṭi/Setu region (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis / brāhmaṇas in assembly
Scene: A jackal and a monkey sit facing each other near a coastal grove, their eyes conveying recognition beyond animal life; a faint overlay shows their former human friendship as a translucent vignette.
FAQs
The continuity of karma and relationships across births is highlighted, preparing the listener for moral instruction through narrative.
The verse sets the story’s characters; the adhyāya’s stated focus remains Dhanuskoṭi.
None; it establishes the itihāsa background (jātismara and prior friendship).